Folk singer pushes program to end violence in schools

A famous folk singer from the 1960’s performed at the Iowa Association of Schoolboards meeting today in Des Moines. Peter Yarrow is one third of the singing trio Peter, Paul and Mary who gained famed for such songs as “Puff the Magic Dragon.” Yarrow and his daughter Bethany now perform a song called “Don’t Laugh at Me”.The song is part of a program aimed at teaching school kids to respect each other.He says it teaches kids to honor and not hurt each other. The song is paired with an emotional three-minute video that shows different kids and their struggles. It tells kids to not laugh at others who’re different.Yarrow says viewing the video and hearing the song has an impact on kids.Yarrow says kids today are constantly exposed to some of the worst parts of our society, and the schools need to counteract that message.Yarrow says the message of loving others is particularly important now in the wake of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.He says we must bring terrorists to justice, but that won’t solve the problem until we address the root hatred of their acts.Yarrow says the song, and a video that goes with it, are available free to schools. He says so far 10-thousand nationwide have adopted the program.